The integration of cannabis into the society will have far-reaching impacts - not as a result of people consuming it, but as a result of people understanding it.
The emerging legitimate cannabis market and industry impacts the society, the culture, and the economy. As a writer, lobbyist, and policy wonk, Kate Cholewa offers a broad perspective for those both inside and outside the movement and industry.

Don’t Pimp the Weed

Down in Oakland, the boys said, Come tax the weed. Tax it big. Here’s Prop 19, that’s right, a little piece of the action for government.

Taxes = money. But cannabis has the capacity to not only generate money, but also to generate wealth, lighten the burden carried by our natural resources, and help people find their way out of the maze and haze of the pharmacy.

Tax revenue is a perk, not the reason. It’s not a devil’s trade.

There’s a difference between creating a cannabis industry infrastructure that produces tax revenue and creating an infrastructure that creates wealth that creates tax revenue.

Taxes are part of life in the legitimate market, yes. But please, don’t pimp the weed.